Browns coaches: O-attack, D-depth, and special teams ... action

At camp, Chudzinski, Grantham and Daisher outline expectations for season.

Steve Doerschuk

All three Browns coordinators revealed some of their plans Saturday during a lunch break sandwiched between two training camp practices.

Here’s a look at their takes.

Rod Chudzinski, Offense

Kellen Winslow Jr. dropped the “G” word. Maybe he it was just the suck-up stuff receivers do when campaigning for throws.

“He’s a genius,” the tight end said of his new coordinator, Chudzinski. On the other hand, Chudzinski was Winslow’s coordinator at Miami (Fla.) from 2001-03.

Chudzinski could only laugh.

“I haven’t been called that too much in my life,” he said. “I’ll take it.”

Chudzinski, 39, was a standout at Toledo St. John’s High School before playing tight end at Miami. He was Butch Davis’ tight ends coach at Miami from 1996-2000 and offensive coordinator under Larry Coker.

Chudzinski rejoined Davis in Cleveland in 2004. When Davis left during that season, Chudzinski became offensive coordinator, and the Browns went 1-4. He had a soft landing in San Diego, where he learned Cam Cameron’s offense and was part of a 14-2 team in 2006.

He’s installing an “attack style” offense, but he’s vague about what that means. It could mean a speed guy, such as Tim Wilson, moves ahead of a possession guy, Joe Jurevicius, on the depth chart.

Wilson was among the first players Chudzinski mentioned — not long after Braylon Edwards — when he said his system will adapt to special skills.

Chudzinski will try to keep opponents guessing. New No. 1 back Jamal Lewis loves the variety of shifts and formations Chudzinski uses, thinking foes who stack eight men in the box will be made to pay.

The jury is out on whether Lewis, though only 27, has been hit so much that he can’t get back to being an All-Pro.

“He’s leaner and lighter than he’s been,” Chudzinski said. “I think the guy’s hungry. I think he’s expecting to have a great year.”

Plenty rides on improvement of the offensive line.

“I like what’s been done with that group,” Chudzinski said. “I like how they’re coming together.”

Adding veterans Ted Washington and Willie McGinest was supposed to help Grantham improve on his strong 2005 debut as an NFL coordinator. So was drafting Kam¬er¬ion Wimbley and D’Qwell Jackson in the first two rounds.

Yet, the 2006 Browns gave up 356 points, 55 more than the ’05 team allowed.

Opponents gained 344.8 yards a game, clearly worse than the 316.8 a year earlier.

Maybe it was a cornerback thing. The Browns were ravaged by injuries at the key position, forcing Grantham to relax into a bend-and-try-not-to-break approach.

Grantham’s bosses gave him a pass. In June, the 40-year old former Virginia Tech lineman signed a contract extension.

At cornerback, rookie Eric Wright is supposed to have first-round talent. Leigh Bodden expects to break through after a 2006 wrecked by ankle woes. Free-agent Ken¬ny Wright has started opposite Bodden while the other Wright begins to work his way up.

Does Grantham have the guys to allow him to play more man coverage and give the run defense a better chance?

On the next kick, Daisher yelled, “Get to that freakin’ ball.” He ran after the coverage unit, liked what he saw and yelled, “Thank you.”

Cheers for Daisher cascaded over the gallery ropes.

“I have high expectations for us. I really do,” Daisher said. “If I see something as a coach that’s not to that expectation, I’m gonna correct it.”

Daisher had the dubious distinction of coordinating special teams for the 2-14 Oakland Raiders in 2006.

His résumé is different.

In 2003, a year before he got his first NFL job (Eagles), he was head coach at a North Carolina high school. Before that, he was a defensive coach at East Carolina University, a defensive line coach at Indiana University, a defensive line coach at Army and a high school head coach in Illinois.

A former Western Michigan wide receiver and defensive back, he has quickly identified fellow former MAC player Joshua Cribbs as a special teams force.

“What do you not like about Joshua Cribbs?” he said.

Cribbs led the Browns in special teams tackles last year. He didn’t get much league-wide buzz as a return man because Devin Hester while scoring five return touchdowns for NFC champ Chicago, but ...